Welcome to the Piano World Piano ForumsOver 2 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

Ben.. I think you will get all of the theroy you will need in Alfreds all in one. Twenty six bucks seems alot for what you would get. Alot of people like the Idiots guide to music theroy as a reference....

Carl Humphries book The Piano Handbook is a beautiful book. It seems to move a little fast as a method book and really focuses on classical. I have the Handbook and the workbook and someday will sit down and go through them. Right now I am working on Alfreds AIO book two and "First Lessons in Bach"

Will the Alfred AIO books ensure that I'm keeping the rhythm? I've been researching online for how to practice the rhythm of a new song and I'm getting conflicting answers. Some say to plow through the song by only learning the notes, then learn the rhythm, and others say to plow through the song by learning the notes and the rhythm because of muscle memory. What do I do? How do I learn the rhythm of a song? Metronome? Counting aloud? When do I do this and how long do I do this?

That website is one of the few with clear cut instructions and I'm looking for concrete instructions on how to train my brain to learn the rhythm.

Carl Mc, on this forum, said "count aloud '1,2,3,4' when counting 1/4 & 1/2 notes. I use the '1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and' when counting 1/8 notes and dotted 1/4 notes."

If that's what I have to do, then I'll do it! I just need to know when and how long to count aloud, use a metronome or anything else. If there's a website resource for this, you may simply give me that. Thanks!

Don't use the metronome until you have learned the notes, its just too much to contend with while learning the notes...Count the smallest notes. Say the song has 1/8 notes then count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. if its just quarter notes count 1, 2, 3, 4. I have a little book called "Basic timing for the Pianist" by Alan Small. Its published by Alfred.... I think I got it at Amazon. Anyway its a bunch of little exercises you play that helps with your timing. Another book I have is called Sight Reading Piano. Also published by Alfred. Its written for kids (I got over it) but it includes exercises in which you clap the rythym while counting and play while counting. Its really helps alot.

P.S. I just looked at that website and yes its five pretty good ways to learn rhythm. I think I use all of them....

@benghaner1: I don't think that the Alfred AIO book itself will ensure that you keep to the rhythm. It is you who will have to do that by yourself. Since you've been playing for a while already, I'm sure you already have the basics of music theory under your belt (time signatures, note values...). Maybe you just need practice in applying what you already know. Since you're keen on developing your rhythm, it is probably a good idea to get a beginner book that has very simple pieces that will help you get the hang of COUNTING and keeping to the rhythm without much trouble (with very simple pieces you don't need to concentrate so much on the notes but on the beat itself). I think any reputable Level One book or repertoire collection can help you with that.

I have an atrocious sense of rhythm, and that's what I specifically told my teacher during our first lesson. Thankfully, my teacher taught me how to count and with some practice, I can now play the songs at my level at the correct rhythm (something that I marvel to even now ). When I've more or less internalized the rhythm that I don't need to count constantly, I tap my foot at times (like with a whole note for example) to make sure I don't rush it. Playing with the metronome comes last - it's an invaluable tool but playing with the metronome on too early would probably just frustrate you. Nowadays I use it more for checking my rhythm, not to build it. And if you've never played with the metronome before, don't expect it to 'get it' on your first try. My teacher told me I was one of the few students she has that could keep time with the metronome, but that's because I've practiced countless gruelling hours with it before....

Another thing...I find that playing pieces you don't know is great for honing rhythm. That's because your previous knowledge of the song does not color your own playing. I find that when I know the tune of the piece, I rely more on my knowledge than on counting the notes, and that's where I trip up (often, the arrangement of the piece I'm working on is a bit different than the tune I have in my head).

Update...... I had my piano lesson a while ago and I feel like a learned a lot today, especially on how to play more smoothly and putting accents. I passed both O Sole Mio and Jericho but The Stranger still needs polishing. At least I got the go-signal to start working on Greensleeves. I also hav 2 new short pieces and 1 other long piece assigned (not from Alfred). Lots of 'homework' to do...and I'm loving it There are so few pages left at the back of the Alfred book but they sure take a long time to finish!

We went to a couple of piano stores on the week end and I think we are actually buying a Yamaha Clavinova CLP 330. The store will get them in a week or two. I'm excited and scared at the same time. What am I doing? I'm totally obsessed with the piano. And I can't stop thinking about getting an acoustic next. Right now I only practise in the evenings when the kids are asleep. Acoustic makes no sence at this point. And I want to make sure I am not going to quit before I buy an instrument. My husband says he doesn't want to hear about it at least for a year and then, if I'm still playing we can start looking at our options. So instead of being glad about Clavinova I'm living a year ahead in my imagination. Upright or grand? Such happy thoughts.

Cheaper on amazon.com because it doesn't come with the cd, which I don't think you'll need for these simple pieces.

Anyways, so, I'm done. I just finished playing Amazing Grace without error a few times and so now I'm moving on to book 2 Finally...it's been fun though.

I've already started with book 2 while I was working on Amazing Grace and it's going well. The first few pages are just review so that's good. Anyways, I'll see you guys in the book 2 message board or whatever it's called. Good luck everyone. Keep practicing

Kanadaka, I have a sort of similar deal going with my hubby. We went for an older used piano, its not bad, but I get piano envy everytime I play on my teacher's Yamaha piano. Our deal is when I finish the Alfred series (all 3 books) we'll look at upgrading. I think that is fair, as if I stick it out that long, I'm probably with it for the long haul.

Does anyone have The Stranger down or already have it recorded and can upload it? It must be one of those ones that is in the AIO but not the basic, as PianoNoob doesn't have it. Thanks in advance if you can!

This is a great book. I'm practicing the amazing grace too. Also I wish I could play the moonlight sonata. I also found a great free ebook on www.pianoencyclopedia.com to give me a few "begginer's theories on chords"

This is a great book. I'm practicing the amazing grace too. Also I wish I could play the moonlight sonata. I also found a great free ebook on www.pianoencyclopedia.com to give me a few "begginer's theories on chords"

Yeah, thanks for the link. Good little free download reference.My only criticism of the PianoEncyclopedia charts is that they do not include fingering (you know, 1 on G, 3 on E, 5 on C, etc...)Maybe the fingering explanation is buried in the text and I have not found it yet, but as for being on the charts themselves, I would like to see fingering.Especially for the "wider" beyond 5ths chords.Unless... omission of fingering is intentional, and the author assumes you should first progress to the point where fingering is taken for granted.

I still cannot do the "Can-can", having problems around the 3rd, 5th measures and so on when you play to notes in same succession, with a triple chord, and when you have to change which finger plays the same key. Terrible explanation, but I just can't seem to do manage doing it right unless I just do two chords instead of three, my hands doesn't want me to do the third.

"Why am I blue" is pretty much down though, I think at least but some notes are played a bit uneven, but since its blues I think that's ok. Starting to sound right but having slight trouble figuring out the final measure but I don't think that's much of a problem.

I have taken a look at both "Good People" and "Little Brown Jug" and actually tempted to try Little brown jug first but we'll see. But what does playing with emphasis mean in piano? I see it says so in the "Little Brown Jug" but I'm not sure if I understand it. How is it any different from playing the notes the normal way?

I'm going to start piano lessons in September. I'm so excited. Just had a trial lessons yesterday and loved it. My teacher thought I did pretty good on my own. I hope I made a right decision and will be able to practise enough to make lessons worth it. She thinks we can finish level 1 pretty quickly (I'm up to Go down Moses) and then decide what we want to do next.

Well I'm back from vacation in California and back to practicing. Yosemite was beautiful, albeit very dry so the waterfalls were not their usual amazing selves. But we made it to the High Sierra on a lovely day hike out of Tuolumne Meadows (for those of you who know and love Yosemite) and that was nourishing for the soul.

Since I've been away two weeks, I'm solidifying what I thought was pretty much done, i.e. LBJ and Chiapanecas. But it won't be long before I'll be able to move on from there.

Welcome to Kanadka - I also have kids, two of them, ages 10 and 11. So much changes between age 3 and age 10 of course, so it's hard to compare. I would say though that when kids observe parents doing something that they love, especially something beautiful and authentic like teaching themselves to play piano, they can't help but be affected in a positive way. Provided it stays in balance, I think it's a great thing.

My entry into piano was the opposite way: my son stuck with his lessons for four years, and inspired me to get into it. It was when we were researching together the purchase of his (our) new piano - we ended up with a Young Chang Platinum 5'3" baby grand that we all love - that I caught the bug myself. Now I have added a used Yamaha P90 digital that I purchased from Craigslist, because I am shy about my lame playing in front of my family. It's in the basement, and it has become my special zone.

Marimorimo - congratulations on your progress! Maybe if I work hard in the next few weeks I can catch up.

Best to all, great to be back on the wonderful world of AIO Book 1 on the ABF.

Hey everybody - I haven't been here in a while but am still plugging along in Alfred's #1! Almost done though - I'm on Raisins and Almonds and I love that song. For me - I have to hear a melody first - then I can play it. It's easier that way. I had the hardest time with the beat on O Sole Mio. Finally got it though!

Well, I'm through Jericho, that one is fun. But I think I'm going to wait until after my next lesson on Wednesday to start the stranger and work on polishing up everything I've been working on up to that point. I'm starting to get a little left hand and shoulder stiffness again, and I don't want it to get as bad as it did last spring, so I'm going to take it easy this weekend and not attempt anything new.

Things are getting quite harder as of now, Good People I already put on hold, didn't really like it and couldn't really do it well and progress have slowed quite a bit down. Then there's "Little Brown Jug" I'm working separate its all ok, so trying to put them together. Now here's the thing I have watched videos of course of people playing it, and they all play the left hand one octave lower than what I assume is normal. (Since chiapanecas is played at the "normal" LH position.) I've been playing that way, but even after looking at the sheet plenty of times, and comparing in with the Mexican hat dance, I don't realize why is Little brown jug played one octave lower.

Is there any way that I can see this on the sheet, the notes on bass seems very similar on both, and somehow I can't make it out what exactly makes you play the LH so low on the keyboard. Anyone would mind explaining to me why this is this the case, and how I'm able to recognize this in future songs?

I'll try explaining it as best as I can...that is if I understand your question correctly

Ok so as you know, the lower you go on the bass staff the more to the left you go on your keyboard. Now middle C would be the first ledger line above the bass staff. The third space (from the top going down) of the bass staff is also a C note, but that C note on the keyboard is the first C to the left of middle C.

Now in LITTLE BROWN JUG...in the second measure, they want you to play C and F

The C note would be the one I just described, the first C note to the left of middle C

The F note would be the second F note to the left of Middle C because...

The 2nd line from the top of the bass staff is F but that's the first F to the left of middle C, the next F note is the space right under the last line of the bass staff so going more right, that would be the 2nd F note to the left of middle C on your keyboard.

I hope this is making sense...lol

Basically, the lower the notes on the bass staff, like in Little Brown Jug, the further to the left you are from middle C on your keyboard. The higher the notes are on the bass staff, like in Chiapanecas, the closer you are to middle C on your keyboard.

I hope this helps...and if this wasn't what you were asking about, then sorry lol

Zenobe: Glad to hear you had a pleasant vacation! Goodness knows I want one right now! (I have one scheduled for September, but it's only 5 days). I wish I had a lovely baby grand piano to play on to! It must be more inspiring to play on a wonderful instrument. You'll be catching up with me soon - I'm swamped with other (much harder!!!) pieces given to me by teacher and she wants me to try a duet

Recap of today's lesson : I think I got Greensleeves OK, but I'm still slow in changing hand positions with The Stranger. I'm currently working on Go Down, Moses . And a bunch of other pieces assigned by my teacher...including the dreaded duet...and another dreaded piano solo that's supposed to be my recital piece for next year...and I thought even next year would be a stretch, but my teacher apparently thinks I can start working on it now. Oh well, I guess it's good to be challenged But seriously....

I'm polishing Go down, Moses, Stranger and Jericho for my first lesson next Tuesday. Stranger is the hardest for me for some reasons, I can play each line very nicely but can't connect them as smooth as I'd like to. Now that I have a teacher I'm extra motivated to polish the songs and make them sound nice. Really, unitl this point it was more about getting the right notes at right tempo, now I'm starting to make it musical. So much fun, but can be frustrating too, when I can't make it sound nice.

Zenobe, thanks for welcome. It must be great to have a baby grand piano to play on - and how wonderful that you can share this journey with your son.

Dee180, Raisins and Almonds is one of my favourite songs in Alfred1. Was it hard to learn? I remember when I first got this book and was listening to the pieces in it from PianoNoobAlexMan's chanel on youtube, I thought if I could only play Raisins and Almonds I'd be very happy. I'm a complete beginner, never played any instrument in my life. Never thought I could. But I'm almost there myself now (2 more songs) and I can't wait. Of course now I also have different goals, looking forward to pieces in book 2 and 3 bacause I don't care that much for the Entertainer and Amazing grace. But book 2 pieces sounds much nicer, and to play Fandango in book 3 would be a dream come true.

If there are any pieces from any Alfred book you want posted on the opening page, post it here and drop me a PM. Some stuff gets lost in the conversation and I don't always read through every post of every thread.